Antique 2 Vol. Book Set, “The Life & Times of Edward III” by William Longman, 1869, First Edition Fine Leather

Antique 2 Vol. Leather Book Set Entitled “The History of The Life & Times of Edward III” by Renowned English Historian William Longman | 1869, Special Edition, published in London: Longmans, Green, and Company

Antique 2 Vol. First Edition Leather Book Set Entitled “The History of The Life & Times of Edward III” by English Historian William Longman | 1869, Special Edition, published in London: Longmans, Green, and Company 1869 | Includes ample illustrations and maps, several color fold-out maps, one entitled “The Origin of the Kingdoms of Western Europe” | Approx. Size: 10″ H x 7.5″ W.

Book is a continuation of William Longman’s lectures on the History of England

Full Title: The History of The Life & Times of Edward IIIPublication date: 1869Publisher: London: Longmans, Green, and Company 1869Preface: Dated January, 1869Edition: Special First Edition complete in 2 Volumes

Binding: Very fine craftsmanship – Full Original Olive Calf Morocco Leather Binding | Spine is olive with has 5 large raised bands and gold gilt lettering on separate the Book Title (Green) & Volume (Red) Panels | Front cover has a very fine armorial design for the Howell’s School, the name “Howell’s School, Llandaff” and the date 1871 | Fine Marbled Book Boards and page edges.

About Edward III:

Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death; he is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after the disastrous and unorthodox reign of his father, Edward II. Edward III transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe. His long reign of 50 years was the second longest in medieval England (after that of his great-grandfather Henry III) and saw vital developments in legislation and government, in particular the evolution of the English parliament, as well as the ravages of the Black Death.

Edward was crowned at age fourteen after his father was deposed by his mother, Isabella of France, and her lover Roger Mortimer. At age seventeen he led a successful coup d’état against Mortimer, the de facto ruler of the country, and began his personal reign. After a successful campaign in Scotland he declared himself rightful heir to the French throne in 1337. This started what became known as the Hundred Years’ War. Following some initial setbacks, this first phase of the war went exceptionally well for England; victories at Crécy and Poitiers led to the highly favourable Treaty of Brétigny, in which England made territorial gains, and Edward renounced his claim to the French throne. This phase would become known as the Edwardian War. Edward’s later years were marked by international failure and domestic strife, largely as a result of his inactivity and poor health.

Edward III was a temperamental man but capable of unusual clemency. He was in many ways a conventional king whose main interest was warfare. Admired in his own time and for centuries after, Edward was denounced as an irresponsible adventurer by later Whig historians such as William Stubbs. This view has been challenged recently and modern historians credit him with some significant achievements.[Wikipedia]